Chris Paulhttp://www.businessinsider.com/category/chris-paul
en-usTue, 03 Mar 2015 15:56:38 -0500Tue, 03 Mar 2015 15:56:38 -0500The latest news on Chris Paul from Business Insiderhttp://static3.businessinsider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-nba-could-be-headed-towards-another-lockout-next-year-2015-2The NBA could be headed toward another lockout next yearhttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-nba-could-be-headed-towards-another-lockout-next-year-2015-2
Mon, 16 Feb 2015 19:40:00 -0500Doug Sibor
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54e28cc3ecad04dd4ce35574-1200-924/adam-silver-11.jpg" border="0" alt="Adam Silver"></p><p>As we reach the end of the 2014-15 NBA All-Star break, there is much to be thankful for with the current state of the NBA. The premier basketball league is flush with stars, from mainstays like LeBron James and Kevin Durant to upstarts like Stephen Curry and James Harden.</p>
<p>Social media and the NBA’s tech-savvy approach have made basketball a huge part of Internet culture, and indeed have made the game more popular and accessible than at any other time in its history. Right now, the biggest league-wide controversies are what to do about the draft lottery, maybe tweaking the playoff system, and if the regular season schedule should be shortened. Basically, life in Adam Silver’s NBA is very good.</p>
<p>And yet, there’s a massive potential storm brewing that could bring a sudden end to all of this controversial tranquility.</p>
<p>Either the players or the owners can opt out of the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement—signed after a contentious series of negotiations between the league and the players union and a 161 day lockout from July to December of 2011—in the summer of 2017, and given how favorable the current deal has been for the owners it seems almost a certainty that the players will invoke their right to do so. What could follow is yet another volatile, bitter series of negotiations that will threaten to cancel games and erode the goodwill the NBA has built up with its fans.</p>
<p>The central issue during the 2011 lockout was how owners and players would split the Basketball-Related Income (BRI) generated from things like ticket and merchandise sales, along with TV revenue. Owners wanted the players to cut their share of BRI from 57 percent to 47, and the players countered by offering to cut it to 53. The resulting staring contest led to a work stoppage that saw the season reduced from 82 to 66 games, with the owners eventually “winning” the negotiations by getting the players to cave and agree to a 49 to 51.2 percent share of BRI.</p>
<p>The owners’ central argument (which did have some truth to it) was that the previous CBA was causing 22 of the 30 teams to lose money, indirectly damaging the players as a result. In the wake of the NBA signing a $2.66 billion per year TV deal (triple what the last one was worth) along with even small market franchise values skyrocketing, that argument is simply no longer an option.</p>
<p>Nobody knows this more than the players, with newly-elected NBPA Vice President LeBron James saying in October that “The whole thing that went on with the last negotiation process was the owners telling us that they were losing money. There's no way they can sit in front of us and tell us that right now after we continue to see teams selling for billions of dollars.”</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54e28cf3ecad04724ce35572-1200-924/lebron-james-and-david-blatt-3.jpg" border="0" alt="LeBron James and David Blatt">While players stand to benefit from the new TV deal before the current CBA expires (the salary cap and value of max contracts are dictated in part by BRI, and there’s about to be a whole lot more of that), the issue of max contracts is likely to be a huge sticking point. Within hours of the new TV deal, power players like James, Chris Paul, and Durant were already considering a push for the end of max contracts. It’s hard to see a world in which owners would willingly go for that; imagine the salary someone like LeBron or KD would command on the open market? How many years would someone be willing to offer Durant, or even a younger player like Andrew Wiggins? It would create a fundamental shift in how teams are put together, and such dramatic changes are something the owners have never shown a particular fondness for.</p>
<p>Another significant factor in making a lockout more likely is the fact that the players are much better prepared now than they were in 2011. Back in July, the NBA Players Association quietly sent a letter to players recommending that they opt into a pay system that will allow them to keep receiving checks even in the event of a work stoppage in 2017. Rather than receive their yearly salary over a 12 month period, a provision in the CBA allows for players to stretch those payments out over 18 months instead. Interim executive director Ron Klempner wrote to the players that:</p>
<p>“We suggest that you consider including this provision in any multi-year contract you negotiate, specifically for the 2016-17 season. An 18-month payment schedule for 2016-17 will allow a player to continue receiving paychecks throughout the 2017-18 season, even if the players are lockout that season.”</p>
<p>You could certainly make a case that Klempner and the union are simply encouraging the players to be financially prepared and learn from the mistakes of the past. However, given how the owners successfully used players’ lack of preparedness last time as a negotiation ploy, the union is also trying to put itself in a better position if and when the time comes to stare down the owners at the bargaining table.</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54e28d2a6da811835ccaccaa-1200-924/chris-paul-10.jpg" border="0" alt="chris paul">While it's mostly doom and gloom concerning whether owners and players can bridge what look like significant gaps, there is some reason for hope. It begins with Silver, the new commissioner whom players seem to genuinely like after the way he handled last year’s Donald Sterling fiasco. Indeed, on both the player and league sides the names and faces we’ll get to know in the CBA negotiations will be entirely different than they were in 2011. In addition to Silver replacing David Stern, Billy Hunter is out as head of the players union, Chris Paul is the new lead player rep after the ouster of Derek Fisher, and Michele Roberts is in as NBPA executive director.</p>
<p>So does this mean that a lockout can be avoided this time around? With team values and league revenues never higher, both sides have a vested interest in actually playing basketball and keeping those numbers up. The sticking points discussed here are very much a real thing though, and will undoubtedly cause a lot of discomfort for fans between now and whenever a new deal is eventually struck. In addition to the aforementioned BRI and max contracts, there are significant factors like the luxury tax and salary cap structure that will require a lot of attention when the sides begin negotiating.</p>
<p>If money is the problem in striking this new deal, it’s also the solution. Basically, there’s a lot of it to be had. Let's hope both the players and the owners are smart enough to realize that the way to ensure both sides get paid is to keep fans entertained with uninterrupted NBA basketball.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-nba-could-be-headed-towards-another-lockout-next-year-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-insane-work-ethic-2013-9">Why Kobe Bryant Is The Hardest-Working Player In The NBA</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-trade-2014-11The 2011 Chris Paul Trade Veto Was A Disastrous Move By The NBAhttp://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-trade-2014-11
Mon, 17 Nov 2014 17:22:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/532f2fc869bedd16496eba8b-1200-924/chris-paul-clippers-dwight-howard-doc-rivers-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Chris Paul Clippers Dwight Howard Doc Rivers"></p><p>In one of the strangest, most controversial decisions in recent league history, NBA commissioner David Stern <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-lakers-2011-12">vetoed a trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers</a> in early December of 2011.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A week later the NBA accepted a trade that sent Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, altering the trajectories of three franchises in the process.</p>
<p>At the time the league owned the New Orleans Hornets, Paul's team, after <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2010/12/06/nba-takes-drastic-step-of-buying-hornets/">buying them from George Shinn in 2010</a>. While the league owned the team, they let general manager Dell Demps make the player-personnel decisions ... until he tried to trade Paul to the Lakers.</p>
<p>According to Howard Beck of the New York Times, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/sports/basketball/paul-set-to-join-lakers-as-part-of-3-team-deal.html">Stern vetoed the trade at the behest of other owners</a>, including Dan Gilbert of the Cavs, who thought the deal was too good for the Lakers. The NBA's decision <a href="http://deadspin.com/5866620/five-bullshit-things-about-david-sterns-bullshit-veto-of-the-chris-paul-trade">was roundly criticized at the time</a>, and it looks even worse now.</p>
<p>Here's the package the NBA rejected from the Lakers, which would have been a three-team trade with the Rockets:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Hornets get:</strong> Goran Dragic, Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, and New York's 2012 1st-round pick (which became Royce White)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Lakers get:</strong> Chris Paul</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Rockets get:</strong> Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom</span></li>
</ul>
<p>Stern ultimately accepted this deal from the Clippers:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">Hornets get:</strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Minnesota's 2012 1st-round pick (which became Austin Rivers)</span></li>
<li><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">Clippers get:</strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> Chris Paul, two 2nd-round picks</span></li>
</ul>
<p>Three years later, this has been a terrible trade for the Hornets.</p>
<p>Kaman now plays for Portland and Aminu plays for Dallas. Austin Rivers <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PerDiem-121226/nba-austin-rivers-having-worst-season-ever">had one of the worst rookie years ever</a>, and has yet to average more than eight points in a season.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Gordon, the centerpiece of the trade, has been undone by a succession of injuries. This year he's off to a horrific start. He's averaging nine points per game and shooting 23% from three-point range — a far cry from the 22.3 points per game and 36% three-point shooting numbers he put up in his final season in Los Angeles. On a New Orleans team that has playoff aspirations, he has been more of a detriment than an asset. He's also on a crippling contract that pays him $15 million in 2015-16.</p>
<p>The NBA couldn't have known the trade would work out like this back in 2011.&nbsp;Eric Gordon was only 22 years old and coming off a season where he scored 22.3 points per game. There was a chance he'd become a perennial All-Star shooting guard.</p>
<p>That didn't happen.</p>
<p>Three years later, with the power of hindsight, it's clear the Lakers' offer that the NBA vetoed was better. Goran Dragic is one of the best point guards in the NBA, and he's about to get a max contract next summer. Martin and Scola are also better than any role player New Orleans got from the Clippers.</p>
<p>The Hornets (now Pelicans) ultimately lucked out, winning the 2012 NBA Draft lottery and taking Anthony Davis — who looks like the third-best player in the NBA early in this season. But that trade was an absolute fiasco, and New Orleans would have been in a much better position right now if the league never intervened in the first place.</p>
<p>The NBA hired <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5399241">Demps to be general manager</a>, and had no business overruling him on a basketball decision. It was always going to go down as one of Stern and the league's greatest failures, especially now that the NBA so obviously took the wrong deal.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-trade-2014-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-game-1-stats-2014-5Chris Paul's Historically Dominant Game 1 Hadn't Been Done Since Michael Jordan In His Primehttp://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-game-1-stats-2014-5
Tue, 06 May 2014 09:15:00 -0400Tony Manfred
<p><img class="full" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5368de9feab8ea7d61b1a0fa-800-/chris-paul-okc-clippers.jpg" border="0" alt="chris paul okc clippers" width="800" /></p><p>The Los Angeles Clippers blew out the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-105 in one of the most impressive offensive performances of the year.</p>
<p>The Clippers had 40 points in the first quarter and 69 in the first half on 56% shooting, with just three turnovers.</p>
<p>Chris Paul was dominant. He made his first eight 3-pointers in a row and finished the game with a ridiculous line &mdash; 32 points and 10 assists on 12-for-14 shooting.</p>
<p>He's the only player to ever score over 30 points, collect more than 10 assists, and shoot over 85% in a playoff game.</p>
<p>Here's the complete list of guys who have gone 30/10/75% in a playoff game:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Michael Jordan (1991): 33 points, 13 assists, 15-for-18 shooting</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Chris Paul (2014): 32 points, 10 assists, 12-for-14 shooting</span></li>
</ul>
<p>That's the whole list.</p>
<p>Paul does not traditionally look for his own shot. But last night the Thunder left him open a few times early, and he caught fire. Once he got going, he just started burying preposterous shots:</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5368dd14ecad04bc78c385bd/cp3.gif" border="0" alt="cp3" /></p>
<p>Here's his complete shot chart:</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5368dd4b6da811251e673a78-647-609/screen shot 2014-05-06 at 9.01.39 am.png" border="0" alt="chris paul shot chart" /></p>
<p>Watch all eight 3-pointers here:</p>
<p><iframe width="620" height="349" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WLXHiKXWOPg"></iframe></p>
<p>Paul was the best player on the floor in Game 1. That's a scary proposition for a Thunder team that relies on the individual brilliance of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-game-1-stats-2014-5#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/cliff-paul-commercial-plot-hole-2014-3There's A Plot Hole In The Cliff Paul State Farm Commercial — And You'll Never Watch It The Same Way When You Hear Ithttp://www.businessinsider.com/cliff-paul-commercial-plot-hole-2014-3
Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:41:00 -0400Tony Manfred
<p><img class="full" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/532f344becad04bb2166c858-800-/cliff-paul-state-farm-commercial.jpg" border="0" alt="cliff paul state farm commercial" width="800" /></p><p>Since its debut 2012, State Farm's series of Cliff Paul commercials has been a staple of NBA and college basketball broadcasts.</p>
<p>The premise is simple: Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul has an identical twin brother named Cliff Paul who works for State Farm. They were separated at birth, but now they both help people &mdash; Chris by dishing out assists in the NBA, Cliff by assisting people when they get in car accidents.</p>
<p>"When assisting is in your blood, you know it," the first of these commercials stated.</p>
<p>Earlier this week the writer <a href="http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=10629752">Chuck Klosterman went on Bill Simmons' podcast</a> and pointed out a plot hole in the commercials.</p>
<p><strong>The plot hole: Since Chris and Cliff were separated at birth, they should not have the same last name.</strong></p>
<p>Said Klosterman:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Explain this to me: They're separated at birth, right? They were selected by two different families? Why do they both have the same last name, 'Paul?' So they were adopted by different families who both had the same last name? That doesn't make any sense at all. Why doesn't [State Farm] have them both be named 'Chris' but one has a different last name?"</p>
<p>These commercials have been running throughout March Madness, and now I can't watch them without thinking about this last-name thing.</p>
<p>Here's the original commercial. The voiceover reads:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"On May 6, 1985 identical twins were separated at birth. Despite their different upbringings they shared one invaluable trait: they were both born to assist. Chris Paul was destined to become the ultimate team player. Cliff Paul was destined to lead a life of helping others, and that led him to become a State Farm agent."</p>
<p>Watch:</p>
<p><iframe width="620" height="349" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kbRdDhYFGSw"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cliff-paul-commercial-plot-hole-2014-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/video-chris-paul-and-blake-griffin-unleashed-3-straight-alley-oops-2013-11Chris Paul And Blake Griffin Unleashed 3 Alley-Oops In 35 Secondshttp://www.businessinsider.com/video-chris-paul-and-blake-griffin-unleashed-3-straight-alley-oops-2013-11
Fri, 01 Nov 2013 09:35:00 -0400Cork Gaines
<p>The Los Angeles Clippers overcame their opening night loss to the Lakers with a 126-115 win over the Warriors. Chris Paul led the way with 42 points, but it was three of his 15 assists that created the most buzz.</p>
<p>Midway through the third quarter, the Clippers picked up three straight turnovers and all three ended with a classic Lob City alley-oop from Chris Paul to Blake Griffin. Between the first dunk and the last, just 35 seconds elapsed off the game clock...</p>
<center><iframe width="618" height="348" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/02UJL_4dzfI"></iframe></center><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/video-chris-paul-and-blake-griffin-unleashed-3-straight-alley-oops-2013-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-stars-came-out-to-see-mariano-riveras-last-game-at-dodger-stadium-2013-8The Stars Came Out To See Mariano Rivera's Last Game At Dodger Stadiumhttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-stars-came-out-to-see-mariano-riveras-last-game-at-dodger-stadium-2013-8
Thu, 01 Aug 2013 12:20:00 -0400Cork Gaines
<p>Unless they meet in the World Series, last night was the last time the Dodgers and Yankees will play each other until 2016 and it was the last time Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will ever play in Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p>That combination led to a all-star cast of fans that showed up for what was one of baseball's most anticipated regular season matchups in recent years.</p>
<p>Here are some of the bigger stars starting with Cristiano Ronaldo, who threw out the first pitch...</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51fa6a9869bedd3c3d000024-800-/01-73.jpg" border="0" alt="Cristiano Ronaldo" width="800" /></p>
<p>Of course, Dodgers owner Magic Johnson wasn't going to miss this one...</p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/51fa6b37ecad04d31a000012-1200-800/175103871.jpg" border="0" alt="Magic Johnson and Mariano Rivera" width="800" /></p>
<p>Magic sat with Kobe Bryant...</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/51fa6ba669beddd244000019-946-530/7-31-2013%2010-30-42%20pm.jpg" border="0" alt="Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant" width="800" /></p>
<p>Kobe even took a helicopter to the game, sharing this image on Instagram...</p>
<p><iframe width="612" height="710" frameborder="0" src="//instagram.com/p/cc8CRfxNk0/embed/"></iframe> And from Hollywood, Samuel Jackson was in the crowd...</p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/51fa6c25ecad04d81c00001f-1200-1000/175099680.jpg" border="0" alt="Samuel Jackson and Mariano Rivera" width="800" /></p>
<p>And the night before, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul were at the game...</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/51fa6dda69bedd3e47000017-1072-712/175107554.jpg" border="0" alt="Chris Paul and Kevin Durant" width="800" /></p>
<p>As well as Jay Z and Jack Nicholson...</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/51fa71e96bb3f76e44000000-800-359/8-1-2013%209-30-24%20am.jpg" border="0" alt="Jay Z and Jack Nicholson" width="800" /></p>
<p>Of course, the star of the night was Rivera...</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/51fa6c616bb3f7813a000000-1200-924/175103814.jpg" border="0" alt="Mariano Rivera" width="800" /></p>
<p>And before the game he was presented with a large fishing rod as he heads into retirement...</p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/51fa6cd26bb3f7ab34000017-942-523/7-31-2013%209-59-35%20pm.jpg" border="0" alt="Mariano Rivera" width="800" /></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-stars-came-out-to-see-mariano-riveras-last-game-at-dodger-stadium-2013-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-revives-celtics-clippers-trade-report-2013-6Chris Paul Reportedly Brought The Blockbuster Celtics-Clippers Trade Back From The Deadhttp://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-revives-celtics-clippers-trade-report-2013-6
Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:10:00 -0400Tony Manfred
<p><img class="full" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51c30c796bb3f7f37900000b-800-/chris-paul-los-angeles-clippers-1.jpg" border="0" alt="chris paul los angeles clippers" width="800" /></p><p>The radical trade what would send <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/after-chris-paul-s-nudge--clippers-seek-ownership-approval-for-k-g--rivers-trade-with-celtics---054032081.html">Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and forward Kevin Garnett to the Los Angeles Clippers</a> is on the verge of happening, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports.</p>
<p>The trade was widely considered to be dead earlier this week. But Wojnarowski reports that talks were revived after point guard Chris Paul stepped in and told the Clippers that making the trade was "essential" to him staying in L.A. this summer.</p>
<p>Paul is a free agent. He'd have to take less money to sign with another team, but it's still theoretically possible that he could leave the Clippers.</p>
<p>If we're reading between the lines on this Wojnarowski report, it sounds like Paul used that leverage to push this trade through.</p>
<p>In the trade, Rivers and Garnett would go the L.A. in exchange for DeAndre Jordan and two 1st-round picks.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Clippers were originally reluctant to throw in two 1st-rounders.</p>
<p>It hasn't been completed yet, but it sounds close.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-revives-celtics-clippers-trade-report-2013-6#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-dwight-howard-for-blake-griffin-trade-rumor-2013-6The Dwight Howard-For-Blake Griffin Trade Rumor Won't Go Away Even Though It Will Never Happenhttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-dwight-howard-for-blake-griffin-trade-rumor-2013-6
Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:21:00 -0400Cork Gaines
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51bf2fd2eab8eadf2a00001c-480-/dwight-howard-and-blake-griffin.jpg" border="0" alt="Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin" width="480" /></p><p>The two biggest free agents in the NBA this summer will be Dwight Howard and Chris Paul and they want to be teammates next season <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/9386386/chris-paul-dwight-howard-hoping-play-together-sources">according to Chris Broussard of&nbsp;ESPN.com.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9390303/los-angeles-clippers-believe-land-doc-rivers-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce-according-sources">A</a><a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9390303/los-angeles-clippers-believe-land-doc-rivers-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce-according-sources">ccording to Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com,</a> the Clippers are willing to give the Lakers Blake Griffin and Eric Bledsoe in a sign-and-trade to make it happen.</p>
<p>And even though there are a number of reasons to believe this blockbuster deal will never happen, the rumors won't go away.</p>
<p>There are already reports that the Lakers are not interested. <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/346029979479453696">Adrian Wojnarowski of <em>Yahoo! Sports</em> states flatly</a> that the Lakers have "fully resisted Clippers overtures," and has a source that says "[the Lakers] will never do it."</p>
<p>And then there are the Boston Celtics.</p>
<p>In addition to Howard, the Clippers are also trying to acquire Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and head coach Doc Rivers from Boston.</p>
<p>The Celtics want compensation for releasing Rivers from the three years remaining on his contract. And according to Shelburne and Stein, one of the players the Celtics want is Bledsoe.</p>
<p>Of course, the biggest factor is that the Lakers still want to re-sign Howard. Even if the Lakers are keeping all their options open at this point, there is no rush to get a deal done.</p>
<p>Ultimately the Clippers will be forced to make the deal with the Celtics, something that would happen sooner, rather than later. And once that happens, the Howard-for-Griffin rumor should go away.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-dwight-howard-for-blake-griffin-trade-rumor-2013-6#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/dwight-howard-chris-paul-want-to-with-same-team-2013-6Dwight Howard And Chris Paul Reportedly Want To Sign With The Same Team This Summerhttp://www.businessinsider.com/dwight-howard-chris-paul-want-to-with-same-team-2013-6
Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:54:00 -0400Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/50858b3c6bb3f79634000000-480-/dwight-howard-lakers.jpg" border="0" alt="dwight howard los angeles lakers" width="480" /></p><p>Free agents Dwight Howard and Chris Paul <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/9386386/chris-paul-dwight-howard-hoping-play-together-sources">want to be teammates</a>, ESPN's Chris Broussard reports.</p>
<p>Broussard says that Paul wants to stay in Los Angeles, which means the Clippers would have to work out a sign-and-trade with the Lakers to acquire Howard.</p>
<p>The Clippers don't have the cap space to sign Howard in unrestricted free agency.</p>
<p>There are multiple obstacles in front of this plan, and they are enormous:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Howard would have to take less money in a sign-and-trade.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The Clippers would have to blow up their young nucleus of Blake Griffin, Eric Bledsoe, and DeAndre Jordan.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The Lakers would have to be okay with turning their co-tenants into the NBA's latest super team.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>Broussard notes that there are other teams that have the cap space to sign both players, namely the Hawks. But he says Paul really wants to stay in LA and Dwight doesn't want to play in Atlanta.</p>
<p>They'd both have to take less money if they left their teams too.</p>
<p>We're skeptical, but it's out there.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/dwight-howard-chris-paul-want-to-with-same-team-2013-6#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/cp3-and-blake-griffin-reason-del-negro-is-out-2013-5Chris Paul And Blake Griffin Are The Reason Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro Is Out At LAhttp://www.businessinsider.com/cp3-and-blake-griffin-reason-del-negro-is-out-2013-5
Wed, 22 May 2013 17:06:06 -0400Philip Johnson
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/519d2d9beab8eae87f000002-400-300/delnegro.jpg" border="0" alt="Vinny Del Negro Fired Clippers" width="400" height="300" /></p><p>One day after deciding <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/clippers-fire-coach-vinny-del-negro-2013-5">not to renew coach Vinny Del Negro's contract</a>, <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/los-angeles-clippers">Los Angeles Clippers</a> owner <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/donald-sterling">Donald Sterling</a> admitted the decision was the players'. <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers-del-negro-20130522,0,4485333,full.column">LA Times reporter T.J. Simers asked Sterling</a> if he was off base for thinking the players made the call.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"No, you're not off base," Sterling said. "This is a players' league, and, unfortunately, if you want to win you have to make the players happy."</p>
<p>Simers suggested the only thing that makes players happy is money.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"It's not entirely true. Money is not the only thing that makes them happy," Sterling said. "They want to win, and they want the best opportunity to win. Do they know what the best opportunity to win is? I frankly don't know."</p>
<p>Sterling admits his players axed Del Negro, who coached the Clips to their best regular season record in franchise history, and also admits that he isn't sure that was smart. At least he is honest.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cp3-and-blake-griffin-reason-del-negro-is-out-2013-5#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-buzzer-beater-beat-grizzlies-in-game-2-2013-4Chris Paul Hit A Buzzer-Beater Over Two Defenders To Give The Clippers A Huge Winhttp://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-buzzer-beater-beat-grizzlies-in-game-2-2013-4
Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:21:00 -0400Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51766dffeab8eab049000016-400-/chris-paul-buzzer-beater-1.jpg" border="0" alt="chris paul buzzer beater" width="400" /></p><p>Chris Paul took over the Clippers-Grizzlies game last, scoring his team's final eight points before draining a buzzer-beater (almost) over two defenders.</p>
<p>The Clippers won 93-91 to take a 2-0 series lead. Since 1995 only eight teams have ever lost a series after winning the first two games. So this is huge.</p>
<p>The shot that sealed it was incredibly difficult.</p>
<p>Paul had to beat Tony Allen &mdash; who's maybe the best perimeter defender in the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nba">NBA</a> &mdash; off the dribble. When he finally got down to the box, he had to shoot high off glass from an awkward distance over a longer defender.</p>
<p>They eventually reviewed it and put 0.1 seconds back on the clock, but the Grizzlies couldn't do anything with the final heave.</p>
<p>The video:</p>
<p><iframe width="620" height="349" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dBLcRQKsS6I"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-buzzer-beater-beat-grizzlies-in-game-2-2013-4#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/spike-lees-new-nba-point-guard-commercial-2013-1Spike Lee Directed A Clever New NBA Ad With The Help Of Three Of The Greatest Point Guards Of All Timehttp://www.businessinsider.com/spike-lees-new-nba-point-guard-commercial-2013-1
Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:52:00 -0500Andrew Tredinnick
<p>Spike Lee is directing a series of commercials for the NBA's new "BIG" campaign and the latest is pretty neat.</p>
<p>The commercial features <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/los-angeles-clippers">Los Angeles Clippers</a> point guard Chris Paul dribbling against the Grizzlies Mike Conley, disappearing in a puff of smoke as he slices back and forth across the court. Every time he disappears he drops into a diner to grab a bite with Magic Johnson and Steve Nash.</p>
<p>Johnson questions, "Shouldn't you be headed to the hoop?" and Paul reappears at the rim for an easy layup.</p>
<p>Watch the spot below, with behind-the-scenes footage with Lee and the players under that:</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/obkhSaTuDhI?rel=0"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/brSdgrhY1RY?rel=0"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spike-lees-new-nba-point-guard-commercial-2013-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/blake-griffin-mocks-teammate-with-fake-mustache-2012-12Blake Griffin Mocks Teammate With Fake Mustachehttp://www.businessinsider.com/blake-griffin-mocks-teammate-with-fake-mustache-2012-12
Fri, 28 Dec 2012 15:05:00 -0500Cork Gaines
<p>After last night's win over the Celtics, Blake Griffin answered questions from reporters while wearing a fake mustache. This was in response to Chris Paul's State Farm commercial (seen below) in which his separated-at-birth twin, Cliff Paul, is a mustachioed insurance agent.</p>
<p>During the game, announcer Reggie Miller and Clippers superfan Billy Crystal also donned fake mustaches and glasses, which were part of a fan giveaway...</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/50ddd16669bedd2f6e000000-617-359/capture_20121228_105426.jpg" border="0" alt="Blake Griffin, mustache" width="617" height="359" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/50ddd18cecad041f25000000-1037-583/capture_20121228_105035.jpg" border="0" alt="Reggie Miller and Billy Crystal, mustaches" width="618" height="347" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe width="618" height="348" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kbRdDhYFGSw"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blake-griffin-mocks-teammate-with-fake-mustache-2012-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-pauls-son-is-cute-on-tnt-video-2012-12Chris Paul's Son Reminds Us Why He Is The Cutest Offspring In Sportshttp://www.businessinsider.com/chris-pauls-son-is-cute-on-tnt-video-2012-12
Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:15:00 -0500Cork Gaines
<p>In a move we have seen before, Chris Paul's son appeared with his dad on the TNT post-game show following their win over the Celtics. CP4 was wearing some <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/craziest-nba-outfits-2012-12">trendy NBA hipster glasses</a> and kept sticking his tongue out, either at somebody in studio, or just for the heck of it.</p>
<p>Either way, it is clear who the star of the post-game show really was...</p>
<script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/MDlhYjRhYmQyMjA2NWM2Yzg4YTJkYzcz" type="text/javascript"></script>
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<noscript>&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Please enable Javascript to watch this video&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;</noscript><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-pauls-son-is-cute-on-tnt-video-2012-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-crossover-cavs-2012-11Chris Paul Made The Entire Cleveland Cavaliers Defense Look Silly With One Drive To The Baskethttp://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-crossover-cavs-2012-11
Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:48:00 -0500Andrew Tredinnick
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/los-angeles-clippers" class="hidden_link">Los Angeles Clippers</a> point guard Chris Paul's dazzling dribbling skills were again on display last night when he burned three members of the opposing <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/cleveland-cavaliers" class="hidden_link">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> for an easy layup. (H/T <a href="http://deadspin.com/5958046/?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&amp;utm_source=deadspin_twitter&amp;utm_medium=socialflow">Deadspin</a>)</p>
<p>He spun around Kyrie Irving with help from DeAndre Jordan, crossed up Samardo Samuels and sent Anderson Varejao stumbling backward with a ball fake before getting to the rim.</p>
<p>It was a clinic on everything you want your point guard to be able to do with the ball in his hands. Watch the play here:</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/e2RvZNhoBYs?rel=0"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-crossover-cavs-2012-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/video-by-nba-shows-dwyane-wade-flopping-2012-10NBA Releases Video Evidence Showing Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, And Other Stars Floppinghttp://www.businessinsider.com/video-by-nba-shows-dwyane-wade-flopping-2012-10
Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:08:29 -0400Will Wei
<p>In an effort to better explain its <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nba-flopping-fine-2012-10">new anti-flopping policy</a>, the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nba">NBA</a> <a href="http://www.nba.com/official/">released a video</a> showing in-game examples of flops that, if performed this upcoming season, would lead to fines and possible suspensions.</p>
<p>The video shows seven players committing illegal acts of flopping. The seven players who were essentially called out by the NBA include superstars Dwyane Wade, Tony Parker, and Chris Paul.</p>
<p>Each of these players committed what the NBA is calling "over embellished" reactions.</p>
<p>The best acting in the video, however, clearly goes to Danilo Gallinari, who writhed in pain on the floor and faked an injury after stepping into a Pau Gasol screen.</p>
<p>Watch the NBA's official flopping video below:</p>
<script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/YmIxZjUyM2JmZGM4YTFjMmVmNTcwNWY5" type="text/javascript"></script>
<div id="ooyalaplayer" style="width: 618px; height: 347px;">&nbsp;</div>
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<noscript>&lt;div&gt;Please enable Javascript to watch this video&lt;/div&gt;</noscript><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/video-by-nba-shows-dwyane-wade-flopping-2012-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-went-to-legoland-and-met-the-queen-of-england-on-team-usas-day-off-2012-8Chris Paul Went To Legoland And Posed With The Queen Of England On Team USA's Day Offhttp://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-went-to-legoland-and-met-the-queen-of-england-on-team-usas-day-off-2012-8
Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:41:00 -0400Nicholas Schwartz
<p>Members of Team USA are taking in some of the best parts of London on their day off, and Chris Paul even met the Queen of England, in Lego form.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/50194ec76bb3f73675000016/chris-paul-queen.jpg" border="0" alt="Chris Paul queen" /></p>
<p>He then bought an Airzooka in the gift shop:</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/501952576bb3f7c77d000002/chris-paul-airzooka.jpg" border="0" alt="Chris Paul airzooka" /></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-went-to-legoland-and-met-the-queen-of-england-on-team-usas-day-off-2012-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/photo-lolo-jones-lebron-durant-chris-paul-2012-7The Star Power Of The USA Olympic Squad Captured In One Amazing Photohttp://www.businessinsider.com/photo-lolo-jones-lebron-durant-chris-paul-2012-7
Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:52:00 -0400Lorenzo Arguello
<p>U.S. teenage swimming sensation Missy Franklin is a huge Lolo Jones fan and just <a href="https://twitter.com/FranklinMissy/status/228601194552123392/photo/1">tweeted the below photo with the following message</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@lolojones&nbsp;Here's the picture from tonight! It was so great meeting you!&nbsp;<s>#</s>girlpower<s>#</s>USA</p>
<p>The "first" social media Olympics are going to be great.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5011b76269beddc45f00000e-610-/olympics-lolo-jones-usa-basketball.jpg" border="0" alt="Olympics Lolo Jones USA Basketball" width="610" /></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/photo-lolo-jones-lebron-durant-chris-paul-2012-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/dwight-howard-sign-mavericks-2012-7Report: Dwight Howard Plans On Signing With The Mavericks If The Magic Don't Trade Himhttp://www.businessinsider.com/dwight-howard-sign-mavericks-2012-7
Thu, 26 Jul 2012 10:35:00 -0400Lorenzo Arguello
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/500041276bb3f72e46000021-400-/dwight-howard-trade-rumors.jpg" border="0" alt="Dwight Howard trade rumors" width="400" /></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/mark-cuban" class="hidden_link">Mark Cuban</a> may have lost out big time this summer by not being able to land <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/deron-williams" class="hidden_link">Deron Williams</a>, but he may still be able to get a superstar next summer.</p>
<p>Dwight Howard <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--dwight-howard-s-plan-to-sign-with-dallas-next-summer-makes-trade-from-orlando-problematic.html;_ylt=Ajg36iSp66I6VU.pGmWfPuI5nYcB;_ylu=X3oDMTQ0bTZhN291BG1pdANGRUFUVVJFRCBNZWdhdHJvbiBTUE9SVFMgRlAEcGtnA2FjYjIxNjg1LWJmNDMtMzU2MC1iOTQ0LTM2ZTljZjhlNDE3MQRwb3MDNQRzZWMDbWVnYXRyb24EdmVyA2E1MjY1NWExLWQ3MWEtMTFlMS05ZmVkLTMxMzBlNzNkOTY1OA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpNzk0NjhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3">plans on signing with the Dallas Mavericks</a> next summer if Orlando doesn't trade him to the Nets or Lakers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/yahoo" class="hidden_link">Yahoo</a>! Sports.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/orlando-magic" class="hidden_link">Orlando Magic</a> executives met with Howard Wednesday to convince him to stay with the team long term, but their pitch failed.</p>
<p>Howard would prefer to leave Orlando ASAP via a trade to the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/los-angeles-lakers" class="hidden_link">Los Angeles Lakers</a>. The problem with that scenario is that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/dwight-howard-says-he-wont-re-sign-anywhere-making-it-foolish-for-any-team-to-trade-for-him-2012-7">he's already made it clear he'll test free agency next summer and not sign an extension with his new team</a>.</p>
<p>Also, LA seems content with keeping their current roster and seeing how many titles they can win with new addition Steve Nash.</p>
<p>That's made any team looking to add Howard, including the Brooklyn Nets come January when Brook Lopez can be traded again, wary of giving up so much for a short term rental player.</p>
<p>All of this leaves the Mavs in the best position to add Howard once he hits free agency in 2013, according to Wojnarowski</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>Mavs owner Mark Cuban plans to make a run at Howard, and potentially another star player, to join Dirk Nowitzki.</span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://hoopshype.com/salaries/dallas.htm">Dallas will have less than $40 million on the books in 2013</a>, making a push for Howard and/or another star like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/atlanta-hawks" class="hidden_link">Atlanta Hawks</a> forward <strong>Josh Smith</strong> or <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/los-angeles-clippers" class="hidden_link">Los Angeles Clippers</a> point guard <strong>Chris Paul</strong> feasible.</span></p>
<h2>ALSO SEE: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nba-offseason-winners-losers-2012-7#winner-los-angeles-lakers-1">The Winners And Losers From A Huge NBA Offseason&rarr;</a></h2><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/dwight-howard-sign-mavericks-2012-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/video-chris-pauls-son-doing-the-the-blake-face-is-adorable-2012-5Chris Paul's Son Doing The 'The Blake Face' Is The Cutest Thing You'll See All Dayhttp://www.businessinsider.com/video-chris-pauls-son-doing-the-the-blake-face-is-adorable-2012-5
Sun, 06 May 2012 14:14:54 -0400Cork Gaines
<p>The <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/los-angeles-clippers">Los Angeles Clippers</a> took a 2-1 lead over the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/memphis-grizzlies">Memphis Grizzlies</a> last night with an 87-86 win. But the most memorable moment from the evening came during the post-game press conference.</p>
<p>That is when Chris Paul asked his son, who was sitting on CP3's lap, to imitate Blake Griffin and do "The Blake Face." He did. It was absolutely adorable.</p>
<p>Here's the video (<em><a href="http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2012/05/06/chris-pauls-son-does-the-blake-face-in-front-of-blake-griffin/">via The Big Lead</a></em>)</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<center><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F-slDZNnSnM"></iframe></center><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/video-chris-pauls-son-doing-the-the-blake-face-is-adorable-2012-5#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p>